The History Of Riding Side Saddle | Historical Horses

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  • Опубліковано 26 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 74

  • @irene3196
    @irene3196 Місяць тому +23

    Our late Queen Elizabeth always rode sidesaddle when leading her troops down The Mall at the Trooping of the Colour. In (I think) 1981 she was shot at from the crowd and her control of her horse, Burmese, was superb..

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому +1

      Yes, funny enough I did a video about the late Queen and Burmese a couple of months back.

    • @carolynnmathisen8754
      @carolynnmathisen8754 Місяць тому

      I remember seeing that event. The queen always looked so graceful

  • @OneWayTicketToTheMoon
    @OneWayTicketToTheMoon Місяць тому +18

    The older side saddles are much more comfortable, a wider seat and feel more secure than the modern ones. Worth investing in an older one.

  • @leemasters3592
    @leemasters3592 Місяць тому +23

    Regarding the abdominal strength needed for riding side saddle, I wonder if the wearing of stays or corsets makes a difference as these garments can provide abdominal support.

  • @reallydarlings-se2xf
    @reallydarlings-se2xf Місяць тому +11

    I was lucky enough to take up side saddle as a teenager with borrowed early 20th century tack. It felt v secure but of course I was very small and fit and had rubber bones. We even jumped. I miss my lovely old mare. Thank you so much for your research and information!

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому +1

      How wonderful. Very impressed with the jumping. It’s great to hear from people who have ridden side saddle and how secure they felt.

  • @CDeBeaulieu
    @CDeBeaulieu Місяць тому +13

    Once again an interesting contribution from you. Regarding difficult/dangerous fences. Many years ago I was out with the Fernie and had suffered a fall. I carried on but sought to avoid difficult jumps as I was slightly injured. In those days of 'proper' hunting you could take your own line across country diverting to where you thought foxy might be rather than following the route of hounds (never over running them of course). I espied what I thought to be 3 very old people: I white-haired fellow and 2 veiled ladies side-saddled all in black. I thought I'd follow them as they obviously knew the country and would only jump 3 foot tiger-traps etc. Imagine my surprise as we galloped towards a massive hedge at least 5 ft 6 inches high and probably nearly as wide. Surely not, I thought as whooping with joy the old fella ( astride) and the two ladies (side-saddle) took this huge obstacle. I declined it. This is why I know that with experience and proper training a lady riding side-saddle can out jump a man (me)! Lol!

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому +2

      Wow what an amazing sight to see. The ladies that jump those huge hedges side saddled are such skilled riders. Totally in awe of their core strength. Plus amazing horses.

    • @Belaugh
      @Belaugh Місяць тому +3

      I seem to recall reading that a Hungarian Count who hunted with the Fernie always rode sidesaddle. In Paget's book on Leicestershire I think.

    • @CDeBeaulieu
      @CDeBeaulieu Місяць тому +3

      @@Belaugh I think you are referring to Count Sandor who hunted Leicestershire in the 1828/29 season. Apparently, he paid £1,000 for an 8 horse stud for the purpose. I don't think he rode side-saddle though. There are pictures I've seen of him and he's definitely astride or fallen! As far as ladies side-saddle is concerned there is a picture of Paget's ancestors by (in my opinion) the finest artist of the time, John Ferneley sen with the title: Thomas Terticus Paget and wife Geraldine in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire. Sold at Christies for £54,500 in 2008! Viewable online.

    • @Belaugh
      @Belaugh Місяць тому +5

      ​@@CDeBeaulieu Thank you for that very interesting information (yes, the name of Count Sandor is familiar) , which prompted me to rootle around in the attic for the correct book and reference. So here it is:-
      In Guy Paget and Lionel Irvine's The County Books; Leicestershire (Hale 1950) In the Market Harborough chapter XVII it says: "Among other prominent personages were Count Hochberg, brother to Prince Pless, who rode sidesaddle and is reputed to have been head of the German spy service." Thank you for prompting me to seek out and now reread a book I haven't touched for twenty years or more!

    • @CDeBeaulieu
      @CDeBeaulieu Місяць тому +4

      @@Belaugh Thank you, very interesting. Not knowing this story I just looked it up and discovered strange things about Alexander Count von Hockberg's family. He was born in London and was in the British Secret Service, not German although the situation is complicated because his father was originally German although the family was Prussian and/or Polish. The report by Guy Paget of his riding 'side-saddle' might have been a cloaked reference to Alexander's homosexuality rather than his actual riding.

  • @marymathis9299
    @marymathis9299 Місяць тому +3

    That was fun!!! You covered info that was new to me...great stuff! Thanks for doing that!!! ❤❤❤

  • @leahnichol6665
    @leahnichol6665 Місяць тому +2

    Thank you. This is very interesting and informative. 😊

  • @paillette2010
    @paillette2010 Місяць тому +3

    1:34, remember, most were corseted, which helped.
    I rode one for a short time, you really discover your weaknesses.

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому +1

      Yes, this is such a valid point, which I should have included. Thanks ☺️

  • @nancycurtis7315
    @nancycurtis7315 Місяць тому +3

    Just found your channel. Subbed immediately! Terrific topic! Greetings from the Little Desert region of Victoria, Australia. 😊

  • @gailpettee7906
    @gailpettee7906 Місяць тому +1

    Balance is the key to riding side saddle I think I haven't done it in a long time but I would love to do it again

  • @tinaschueneman7195
    @tinaschueneman7195 Місяць тому +5

    I have been riding SS for about 20 years. A gaited horse like a Peruvian can help with confidence and comfort.
    #TLAlifer

  • @majorhbs
    @majorhbs Місяць тому +1

    At 4:55 you mention being injured when having one's foot caught in a stirrup when thrown from a horse. In the book "A Pioneer Gentlewoman in British Columbia, Recollections of Susan Allison" by Margaret Ormsby, Susan Allison describes being thrown and dragged, c. 1875, after her horse was spooked by a bear on a very isolated trail. The context would suggest sidesaddle.
    In another part of the book she describes making petticoats from nine yards of fabric and she was wearing one this day. Petticoat and skirt went up over her head and protected her from cuts and bruises until she could get free. .

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому

      Oh wow, I imagine she was riding side saddle. Thank goodness for the long petticoat saving her from scrapes and bruises. Super interesting. Thanks ☺️

  • @AVToth
    @AVToth Місяць тому +2

    I found one similar, on You Tube, Charras de Acero. How they stay in the side saddle at high speed is unbelievable. I hope ya'll enjoy this as much as I do.

  • @KimaHolland55
    @KimaHolland55 Місяць тому +3

    Thank you for making this lovely video on the Side Saddle! Have a look at Izabela from Prior attire who makes riding habits throughout time and wrote a lovely book on the topic and how to make such type of clothing for women. Please note that : Women in side saddle is still being done recently at Golega Horse Fair Portugal with Lusitanos , During Sicab Sevilla Spain and also in Friesland on Friesian horses with the Fryske Quadrille 💖#IfYouLoveBaroqueHorses

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому +1

      Thank you for this, I’ve already had a quick look and I love that she does dress patterns. One day, when I become slightly better on the sewing machine I’d love to try making a habit.

  • @glory2cybertron
    @glory2cybertron Місяць тому +5

    There's a good reason women used to ride amblers until their breeding was discontinued in Europe in favor of coach horses that could trot fast but were less comfortable to ride.

  • @beabarber4300
    @beabarber4300 Місяць тому +6

    Back in the 70s, when I was young and limber, I bought a horse with a serious bucking problem caused by poor training in an ill-fitting saddle, poor socialisation to human company and a trainer who took a very cookie cutter approach to horse education.
    My coach recommended that I ride him sidesaddle until he settled down and learned to listen. The reason my coach gave was that first and foremost this horse needed to know that the rider was there to help him and could be trusted to stay in the saddle no matter what.
    I only did sidesaddle in the arena, but it really worked well. He did coach me carefully in how to manage the horse, who did improve to the point where he could be ridden astride as per normal. I found the double pommels really helped me stay in the saddle when he cut loose his wolf. Shying or spooking just wasn't a problem. You just clench your knees and lean back a bit and you are perfectly secure. My coach did say that the most serious danger of sidesaddle riding was when the horse fell down or fell backwards, as it is REALLY difficult to get out of a sidesaddle fast - unhooking your legs from the pommels takes a LOT of time compared to getting out of a regular saddle. There's no possibility of doing a forward roll out of the saddle, or sliding out backwards either.
    For training purposes, I mostly did without stirrups in case the horse misjudged his balance and went over backwards or lost his footing. Fortunately, neither ever happened.
    The horse turned out to be quite a champion 3 day eventer - intelligent, sensitive and super bold. A lovely ride once he learned to trust that he wasn't going to be abused. I still miss him.

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому +1

      Thank you for comment. That’s such an interesting story. So pleased it worked out for the horse and you and your coach did a wonderful job teaching this horse to trust again.
      I’ve come to the conclusion my (very) small experience of side saddle isn’t enough to really comment on whether it’s easy or not. So many of you who have ridden side saddle properly have said how secure you felt, just as much as riding astride.

  • @Siobhan_Shivaun
    @Siobhan_Shivaun Місяць тому +2

    Those little sofa style side saddles mustve been so bad for the horses backs! 🥺
    I've never really wanted to try riding side saddle, I'm convinced I'd fall straight off!! 😂

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому +2

      I thought exactly the same, awful for the horses back.
      Nah you wouldn’t have fallen off, the pommels do help make you feel secure.

    • @Siobhan_Shivaun
      @Siobhan_Shivaun Місяць тому +1

      @historicalhorses9816 I still think I'd fall off, being a bit 'top heavy' if you know what I mean!! 🤣

    • @ronellmiller4286
      @ronellmiller4286 Місяць тому

      Not to mention the horse’s balance (in addition to its back). It must have been a real struggle with a horse carrying all that weight on one side (with the older side saddles).

  • @kathleenmclaughlin1565
    @kathleenmclaughlin1565 Місяць тому +1

    Another reason for a man to ride side saddle is the in ability to ride astride. Many men will give up riding, but there are some who choose this as an alternative after an injury.

  • @LariLesque
    @LariLesque Місяць тому +3

    Oops wrong Anne of Bohemia in the portrait! The portrait c1519 is Anne of Bohemia and Hungary. The Anne you referred to lived 1366-94.

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому

      Oh no! 🙈 Thank you for spotting this. Will pop this in the description.

  • @Sassenach1745
    @Sassenach1745 Місяць тому +1

    It sounds counterintuitive, but honestly I'd far rather jump big fences sideways than astride - if you have a saddle that fits you and the horse well it's very secure indeed! Actually, the danger is mostly in that it's harder to fall off and therefore you're less likely to be thrown clear in a horse fall than you would be astride. Saddles are indeed very expensive to buy, but you can often hire them very reasonably if you just want to give it a go for a few months before committing.

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому

      I’ve definitely learnt this from the many comments on the video that for many riding side saddle and jumping and galloping is easy enough with, (as you said) the right fitting saddle. I’m still in awe of watching ladies jump side saddle.
      I didn’t know that it’s possible to hire a side saddle, I’m going to look into it. Thanks ☺️

  • @helenblackman5558
    @helenblackman5558 Місяць тому +5

    When you say 'early 19th century" and then refer to the 1930s, did you actually mean early 20th century? Sorry, just a bit confused by that. Also, male amputees from the world wars sometimes rode side saddle. Not sure how they felt about that!

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому +3

      Oh well spotted! Ops 🙈
      That’s an interesting fact about male amputee riders riding side saddle I didn’t know that. Thank you

    • @serahloeffelroberts9901
      @serahloeffelroberts9901 Місяць тому

      My chiropractors great grandfather was a Confederate general who lost half his leg below the knee in battle. Didn't slow him down, he just switched to riding side saddle.

  • @loridresser9420
    @loridresser9420 Місяць тому +2

    Angelina Jolie rides side in one of the Lara Croft movies and makes look amazing.

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому

      That’s cool.

    • @bubba3x
      @bubba3x Місяць тому

      That was a stunt double. Stars are no longer permitted to do their own stunts because even a minor injury could throw off the filming schedule and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

  • @brigidsingleton1596
    @brigidsingleton1596 Місяць тому +1

    I notice (too many times, and here, too) that a lot of people mispronounce "breeches" as per the spelling. Of course, as so often happens, English gives different pronunciations to words which seem simple. Thus, "breeches" ought to be pronounced as: 'britches'... Just as,
    (in case you, or any of your new followers may not know)
    'The Belvoir Hunt' is actually pronounced correctly as: 'The Beaver Hunt'.
    Theres a road in Dulwich, London SE21, named 'Belvoir' Road, and its residennts - or at least, some of them, including my then (1970's) boyfriend who lived there - always mispronounced according to its spelling, not to its history. 🤔🐎🐎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿💕

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому

      You are absolutely correct, though having ridden almost all my life I’ve not heard anyone pronounce them correctly come to think of it. I’m going to try and remember. Thanks for comment ☺️

  • @laurainman3244
    @laurainman3244 9 днів тому +1

    The bedouin in Arabia would ride camels with a side saddle, not astride. I guess because they wore robes

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  9 днів тому

      Thanks for comment. Turns out far more men rode side saddle than I initially realised. Yes would make sense with their robes.

  • @georgesand1160
    @georgesand1160 Місяць тому +4

    It is so tipical...the 'weaker sex' had to ride in a way that was much more difficult and much more dangerous.

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому

      Apart from the early side saddle which was dangerous. From reading people’s comments who have good experience riding side saddle, many would say not so difficult or dangerous. Who knows what ladies 100’s of years ago felt about riding SS.

    • @serahloeffelroberts9901
      @serahloeffelroberts9901 Місяць тому

      Sounds like it wasn't more difficult just different.

  • @leighloutreedore8926
    @leighloutreedore8926 Місяць тому +1

    ??? Corsets???

  • @koi---
    @koi--- Місяць тому +1

    Id imagine itd be nice to be able to switch sides every now n then on the long ride across europe lmao
    Did a quick search & found a bunch of them 3-500$ range

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому

      Yes agree if you are riding for a long length of time switching sides would have been good.
      You find found side saddles for $300-400?
      In the Uk they are definitely not that cheap. You can pick them up from £1000 to £3500.

    • @JonaWolf11
      @JonaWolf11 Місяць тому

      ​@historicalhorses9816
      In Germany you can find used side saddles from €280 upwards.

  • @sinjinmonsoon9055
    @sinjinmonsoon9055 Місяць тому +1

    Never been brave enough to even try.😅😅😅..

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому

      😄 the tricky bit is actually getting on, found that really hard 😂

  • @zeitgeist5134
    @zeitgeist5134 Місяць тому

    It's interesting. All this praise for sidesaddles, from you and in the comments below. Nobody mentions of how hard it is on the horse's back. I know, you are going to protest that it is not hard on the horse. I don't believe it. Horses are symmetrical longitudinally.. Even when riding astride, if the person rides even somewhat imbalanced from left-to-right, that is hard on the horse's back. How can riding sidesaddle be "beautiful" if it does harm to the horse?
    As for the rider's safety, be serious. Imbalanced, with the right leg hooked around the hooked pommel? It would not be possible to react swiftly in an emergency. I mean, you don't even have the advantage of shifting your weight onto the right stirrup if needed. Why are you in denial about this?
    Do not advocate for sidesaddles. You will be indirectly responsible for the harm it does to horses and for the injuries to riders in an accident. Instead, you should be advocating for riders to develop the perfect seat, perfectly balanced with faultless posture and relaxation. Such advocacy would benefit riders, and especially, horses.
    There is a reason that the female riders at the Spanish Riding School ride astride. It is not possible to ride well in a side-saddle. Sidesaddle riding is look-at-me folly, pure and simple. Its goal is attention-getting and nothing else. (Oh, yes. I forgot. There IS the fatuous pleasure of wearing an absurd, attention-getting costume.)

    • @historicalhorses9816
      @historicalhorses9816  Місяць тому

      I can’t comment on the safety having only done in once.
      Regards to the horses back I agree it’s something you would have to be very conscious about. From the little experience I have of the one horse I work with that is ridden side saddle there hasn’t been any signs of issues to its back. It’s not ridden side saddle all the time like many horses in this day and age. It has a side saddle that has been correctly fitted and ridden by a very balanced, light rider. From feeling it’s back after being ridden it’s never shown signs outwardly of being sore. Nor has the qualified physio ever picked up any concerns.
      I think if a horse was ridden side saddle all the time then it may be a different story.

    • @zeitgeist5134
      @zeitgeist5134 Місяць тому

      @historicalhorses9816 You are in denial. In that you advocate sidesaddles, you are responsible for those who are not conscientious about their horse's back pain. You say that the saddle you have used has been "correctly" fitted. A horse is longitudinally symmetrical. How can a sidesaddle accommodate this symmetry? Horses suffer enough from the egotistical choices of their riders. Do not support this fad, a fad that only serves the ego of the rider. The only way to develop a connection with a horse that fully honors and is empathetic with the horse's biomechanics is to make an earnest, committed effort to achieve a flawless classical seat. The classical seat demands perfect symmetry. (My own dressage trainer advised me never to engage in another sport that does not require symmetry, e.g., tennis or golf.)
      If you are going to advise people on the subject of riding, DO...NO...HARM.

  • @teresawilson3893
    @teresawilson3893 Місяць тому

    Sounds like the side saddle is typical English snobbery!